Honors English 9
Reflection Questions
2/8/2014
Biggest Improvement
1) Reflecting upon my writing of first semester caused me to realize how much my paragraph structure has improved. As seen in my first essay of the semester "The Power and Influence of a Hero," my paragraph structure is unorganized as I was unaware of how a proper paragraph was to be written. For example, I had only used one quote or piece of evidence per paragraph, where as we have been taught to use two. In my most recent essay "Courage with Consequences", I use two examples as seen which allows me to provide the reader with more information and to prove the point I am attempting to make. Therefore, I believe the biggest improvement I have made this semester has been on my writing format and structure.
Another Improvement
2) Another area I feel that has improved is my development of ideas. Before I began English at the start of the semester, I look at all pieces of literature very literal and was very shallow minded about the message the author was trying to portray. As I have continued with this course I have began to dig deeper, below the surface or the literal meaning to find something much more important, something much more complex. When we first started the novel "To kill a Mockingbird" my idea for the theme was extremely shallow, as my belief was the theme was “Racism is bad” (Reading this previously in my middle school years, I had a brief idea of how the book was to begin and end). Then after group collaboration and exercises which I explored many possible hidden messages, I developed a theme “Courage is the bravery to defy society to stand up for one another, and personal beliefs, even if the cost is great”. Subsequently this has been a major area of improvement.
Structure
3) At the middle school which I attended, we were taught to start a paragraph broad, and narrow the paragraph to your point in the last two sentences. Therefore, I struggled and continue to struggle to adjust my sentence structure and paragraph structure in order for it to match with the new methods I have been taught this semester. Due to this, I find where I need the most practice is still my sentence structure and the only way to get better is to continue to practice writing paragraphs in proper format.
Goals
4) I have not given my goals in writing much thought. I am currently taking a journalism class, which I see as a potential interest or long term goal in my future. If I were to realize that I would like to make Journalism a career, my main focus would be a strong and persuasive voice, as all journalists have. Therefore, my main goal for my writing is to develop a strong voice, whether its an informative, argumentative or simply a creative piece. However for second semester (or short term goal) , my goal is to continue to work on my sentence structure which I have already began to improve upon.
Reflection Questions
2/8/2014
Biggest Improvement
1) Reflecting upon my writing of first semester caused me to realize how much my paragraph structure has improved. As seen in my first essay of the semester "The Power and Influence of a Hero," my paragraph structure is unorganized as I was unaware of how a proper paragraph was to be written. For example, I had only used one quote or piece of evidence per paragraph, where as we have been taught to use two. In my most recent essay "Courage with Consequences", I use two examples as seen which allows me to provide the reader with more information and to prove the point I am attempting to make. Therefore, I believe the biggest improvement I have made this semester has been on my writing format and structure.
Another Improvement
2) Another area I feel that has improved is my development of ideas. Before I began English at the start of the semester, I look at all pieces of literature very literal and was very shallow minded about the message the author was trying to portray. As I have continued with this course I have began to dig deeper, below the surface or the literal meaning to find something much more important, something much more complex. When we first started the novel "To kill a Mockingbird" my idea for the theme was extremely shallow, as my belief was the theme was “Racism is bad” (Reading this previously in my middle school years, I had a brief idea of how the book was to begin and end). Then after group collaboration and exercises which I explored many possible hidden messages, I developed a theme “Courage is the bravery to defy society to stand up for one another, and personal beliefs, even if the cost is great”. Subsequently this has been a major area of improvement.
Structure
3) At the middle school which I attended, we were taught to start a paragraph broad, and narrow the paragraph to your point in the last two sentences. Therefore, I struggled and continue to struggle to adjust my sentence structure and paragraph structure in order for it to match with the new methods I have been taught this semester. Due to this, I find where I need the most practice is still my sentence structure and the only way to get better is to continue to practice writing paragraphs in proper format.
Goals
4) I have not given my goals in writing much thought. I am currently taking a journalism class, which I see as a potential interest or long term goal in my future. If I were to realize that I would like to make Journalism a career, my main focus would be a strong and persuasive voice, as all journalists have. Therefore, my main goal for my writing is to develop a strong voice, whether its an informative, argumentative or simply a creative piece. However for second semester (or short term goal) , my goal is to continue to work on my sentence structure which I have already began to improve upon.